Keep up to date with what's happening at the Ski Club of Great Britain, and out in the mountains, with contributions from staff, members, Ski Club Leaders and athletes.

Staff blog: Who needs a mountain?

Ski+board Deputy Editor Rosie Barcroft headed to Shoreditch for the O’Neill Shoreditch Showdown – a freestyle event in the heart of the capital.

‘Ridonculous!’

I’ve decided that’s my new favourite word. Well, that and ‘funkage’…

Where did I pick up these words (I hear you ask)? Three words. O’Neill Shoreditch Showdown.

O’Neill Shoreditch Showdown (Photo: Sam Mellish)

A 50 tonne snowfall (courtesy of The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead) turned Old Street’s graffiti-clad Red Market into an iconic London street scene. Providing the ultimate backdrop for the top rail riders to show off their skills to a crowd of 500.

Complete with steps, a bus stop, kickers, a postbox, a phone box and of course rails – 24 skiers and boarders pushed themselves throughout the evening, culminating in a dramatic final.

Sparrow Knox (snowboard) and Taylor J Harding (freeski) took the crowns. With a clean frontside 270 to switch boardslide on the rail, styled out with a tap on the red post box, Knox was pretty humble about his win: “I just like to ride, we were all here as mates, I totally didn’t expect to win. It was a great format and a mad set-up.” TJ Harding was on form throughout the night, culminating with a 270 on revert 270 off the rail. Harding said: “It’s something special to win in a place like this, completely unexpected. A great way to set up for the winter.”

The night finished in The Bar Music Hall just around the corner. Where, Live Lazy Habits and Demo Mode entertained the masses.

O’Neill Shoreditch Showdown (Photo: Sam Mellish)

It was a wonderful evening. Wearing my ski jacket, sipping mulled cider and enjoying the gourmet street food – you could almost kid yourself that you were in a snow park, a long way from the country’s capital indeed.